The GoldenPass in Switzerland: trains, tickets and route explained 

What is the GoldenPass train? 

The GoldenPass is a scenic 5.5-hour train journey in several special trains between Lucerne (Central Switzerland), Interlaken (Bernese Oberland) and Montreux (Lake Geneva). Of course, you can travel the other way around too. These are the trains:

• Between Lucerne and Interlaken: the "Luzern-Interlaken Express".
• Between Interlaken and Montreux, option 1: normal regional trains to Zweisimmen, where you'll change to either the modern "GoldenPass Panoramic" with its large windows or the nostalgic "Belle Époque" train to Montreux.
• Between Interlaken and Montreux, option 2: the modern "GoldenPass Express" train that features the luxurious Prestige class. You don't have to change in Zweisimmen.

You'll enjoy great scenery, including many lakes such as the Sarner- and Lungernsee, Lake Brienz, and Lake Geneva. The trains are comfortable. Most offer large panoramic windows and some have catering.

All about GoldenPass prices, tickets, and reservations 

GoldenPass price overview 2024 - per person, per single journey, seat reservations listed separately

This table shows prices per person for a single journey Lucerne-Interlaken-Montreux, or the other way around.

*) Saver Day Pass prices fluctuate. If you buy it far in advance, it's usually cheaper than normal tickets.

**) Reservations are optional in most cases. They're recommended between Interlaken and Montreux in high season. Reservations are obligatory for the Prestige class. Reservations must be paid in addition to any ticket or pass.

***) If you want to travel in 1st class or Prestige class, you need a 1st class rail pass or ticket. If you have one, you can ignore these upgrade ticket prices. But you can also use a 2nd class rail pass or ticket. In that case you do have to get an upgrade ticket.

****) These prices are only relevant if you don't have a rail pass that allows free travel on the GoldenPass route, and if you can't find a cheaper Saver Day Pass.

GoldenPass price 2024 without rail pass

Without a rail pass, a 2nd class one-way ticket for the GoldenPass route between Lucerne and Montreux costs CHF 80. A Saver Day Pass can be cheaper: CHF 52 at the lowest if bought well in advance.

GoldenPass price 2024 with a rail pass

You can ride the GoldenPass for free with a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex. With a Swiss Half Fare Card, you can get discounted normal tickets or a discounted Saver Day Pass.

If you want or need seat reservations, you'll have to pay for them separately. They're not for free or discounted with any rail pass.

Several other rail passes provide discounts too. Find a complete overview here.

GoldenPass seat reservations: all you need to know

Our general advice concerning GoldenPass reservations

In many cases, you don't need reservations for the GoldenPass line. Simply board with a valid ticket or pass. The only actual exception is the Prestige class of the GoldenPass Express trains.

If you travel in high-season months (mostly June to September), we do recommend making reservations though, especially for the stretch Interlaken-Zweisimmen-Montreux. This is a popular route, especially since the introduction of the GoldenPass Express trains.

1. Luzern-Interlaken Express between Lucerne and Interlaken

• Reservations for this train (the Luzern-Interlaken Express) are not required, normally not even in high season. You can reserve seats if you want though.
• Catering doesn't have to be reserved in advance. You can simply order from your seat and have your meal delivered there. If you want a seat in the bistro car  that's available on some trains, this should be arranged in advance.

2. Regional trains between Interlaken and Zweisimmen

• Reservations for regional trains on the Interlaken - Zweisimmen leg are not required, except for groups of 10 or more.
• Reservations cost CHF 9* per person and CHF 7* per person for a group of 10 or more. *) Prices for 2024 are not confirmed yet.

3. GoldenPass Panoramic and GoldenPass Belle Époque between Zweisimmen and Montreux

• Reservations for the GoldenPass Panoramic and GoldenPass Belle Époque trains on the Zweisimmen - Montreux leg are not required, but recommended in high season and mandatory for groups of 10 or more.
• Reservations cost CHF 10 per person, or CHF 8 per person for a group of 10 or more.
• The availability of VIP seats (at the very front of the GoldenPass Panoramic between Zweisimmen and Montreux) is limited. You can mostly not book them in advance. Instead, you're advised to contact the train conductor once you're on board. If VIP seats are available, you can get seated there for a surcharge of CHF 5 to CHF 15 per person, depending on the length of your trip.

4. GoldenPass Express between Interlaken and Montreux

• Reservations for 1st and 2nd class seats in the GoldenPass Express train between Interlaken and Montreux are not required, but highly recommended. There are no standing places.
• 1st or 2nd class reservations cost CHF 20 per person, or CHF 17 per person for a group of 10 or more.
• Traveling in the Prestige class requires a 1st class ticket plus an additional reservation supplement of CHF 49 per person. If you're traveling with a 2nd class pass or ticket, you can get an upgrade ticket to 1st class.
• Catering packages should be reserved in advance, regardless of the class you travel in.

Get your tickets, reservations or tours 

If you don't have a rail pass that allows free traveling, you need to get GoldenPass tickets. Also check if you want, or need, seat reservations.

If you book a tour instead, tickets and reservations are usually included.

GoldenPass discounts with your rail pass 

The GoldenPass explained, with map 

The GoldenPass route can be traveled in both directions. It runs between the German-speaking Lucerne in Central Switzerland and the French-speaking Montreux in the Lake Geneva area. Towns along the way are Brienz, Interlaken, Spiez, Zweisimmen and Gstaad.

The route consists of 3 main sections. If you travel by GoldenPass Express, a change in Zweisimmen is not necessary.

Section 1: Lucerne to Interlaken Ost

The train departs from Lucerne and passes the foot of the Pilatus mountain. You can see Lake Lucerne every now and then, but you will soon leave it behind you.

You'll pass two more lakes, the Sarnersee and the Lungernsee, before the train starts climbing the Brünig Pass. The pass has an altitude of 1008 m, which isn't very high for Swiss standards. Next, the train has to descend 413 m to reach Meiringen at 595 m on the valley floor, and it uses the cogwheel track to do so.

The train changes direction in Meiringen. A flat stretch through the Hasli Valley follows before the train reaches Brienz on beautiful Lake Brienz. About 20 minutes later the train arrives at Interlaken Ost ('East'), which is the gateway to the Jungfrau Region.

Section 2: Interlaken Ost to Zweisimmen

First, the train runs along the river Aare to the other side of Interlaken. It continues its way to Spiez, a town at a scenic location along Lake Thun. You can see the pyramid-shaped Mount Niesen from here.

The GoldenPass line proceeds into the Simmen Valley: a typically Swiss green valley with farms, small villages, and forests.

Section 3: Zweisimmen to Montreux

The train climbs to the highest point of the entire GoldenPass line, near Saanenmöser, at 1279 m. Next up is the upper-class town of Gstaad, with luxurious shops and hotels. Soon after you will leave the German-speaking part of Switzerland and enter the French-speaking regions.

The train winds its way through the valley, which is quite narrow in some places. The valley ends in a tunnel that leads to Les Avants. From there, Montreux is just 3 km as the crow flies, but there are still 578 meters left to descend. A cogwheel track and many curves are required to complete the last 20 minutes of the journey, and you will have a wonderful view of Lake Geneva along the way.

Map of the GoldenPass train route: Lucerne-Interlaken-Zweisimmen-Montreux

Operation dates, schedules and timetable 

GoldenPass: 2024 operation dates

The GoldenPass trains run all year long.

Planning your GoldenPass journey with the timetable

You can consult the GoldenPass schedules through the links here. The trains can also be found in the Swiss timetable:

• Enter your departure and destination stations.
• Select your travel date and your preferred departure or arrival time.
• Enter one or more via-stations along the route to force the timetable to show GoldenPass trains. If you don't, the timetable shows quicker connections via Bern and Lausanne instead by default. You can enter "Meiringen" and "Gstaad" as via-stations between Lucerne and Montreux.

GoldenPass train abbreviations in the Swiss timetable

Once you've entered your journey, date, and time, you'll see an overview of available train connections. This overview contains several labels/abbreviations. Click on any connection for details. You'll then see the exact GoldenPass train names: "Luzern-Interlaken Express", "GoldenPass Panoramic", "GoldenPass Belle Époque", or "GoldenPass Express". 

The abbreviations in the connection overview are as follows:

• The Luzern-Interlaken Express trains between Lucerne and Interlaken, and the GoldenPass Express trains between Interlaken Ost and Montreux, are labeled "PE" (indicating a "Panorama Express" train).
• The GoldenPass Panoramic and GoldenPass Belle Époque don't have a specific label. But you'll see the train name when checking the connection details. Even though these trains aren't labeled "Panorama Express", we'd definitely classify them as special and panoramic trains!
• Normal trains on the stretch Interlaken-Spiez-Zweisimmen can be labeled "R" or "RE" (indicating regional trains), "IR" (interregional trains), or "IC" (intercity trains).

Daily availability of each train type

Luzern-Interlaken Express (between Lucerne and Interlaken)

There are 13 Luzern-Interlaken Express trains each day, operating at one-hour intervals. They depart at:

• xx:06 (6 minutes past each full hour) from Lucerne to Interlaken
• xx:04 from Interlaken to Lucerne

These trains run from about 06h00 until 18h00. Before and after, there are other trains to travel between Lucerne and Interlaken. These may involve a change of trains in Meiringen, or another route via Olten.

GoldenPass Express trains (between Interlaken Ost and Montreux)

There are 4 GoldenPass Express trains each day. They depart at:

• 09:08, 11:08, 14:08 and 16:08 from Interlaken Ost to Montreux
• 07:34, 09:34, 12:34 and 14:34 from Montreux to Interlaken Ost.

GoldenPass Panoramic trains (between Zweisimmen and Montreux)

You can choose from 8 or 9 GoldenPass Panoramic trains, operating on a 1- to 2-hour interval between approximately 08h00 and 18h00.

Before and after, other regional trains on this route are available. Alternatively, you can travel via another route: through the Lötschberg Base Tunnel and Visp in the Rhone Valley.

GoldenPass Belle Époque trains (between Zweisimmen and Montreux)

The availability of GoldenPass Belle Époque trains is limited to 2 connections in each direction. There's:

• 1 in the late morning/early afternoon and 1 in the late afternoon/early evening from Zweisimmen to Monteux
• 1 mid-morning and 1 mid-afternoon from Montreux to Zweisimmen

Best seasons for the GoldenPass 

You need good, clear weather for the best views from the GoldenPass trains. That could be in any season. We prefer early January to late February and early April to late October.

• Spring (April-June) is wonderful as nature is green and fresh in the valleys and there's still snow at higher altitudes.
• Summer (July-mid September) is a beautiful time around the several lakes. The trains can be more crowded than in other months. Seat reservations are recommended.
• In fall (mid-September-late October), the brilliantly colored trees make the trip a special experience.
• Winter (January and February) is great for a snow-covered landscape. The GoldenPass ride isn't at very high altitude, so snow along the route isn't guaranteed. But you will see snow-capped mountains.

In our view, March and November are the least attractive. Nature can be brown and a bit dull in the regions crossed by the GoldenPass.

Weather 

Clear skies are best for a GoldenPass ride. This will get you the best views of the beautiful scenery. Clouds are no problem: you'll still see most of landscape. As the trains are comfortable and an attraction on their own, the GoldenPass ride can even be a perfect rainy-day excursion.

Low clouds, fog, heavy rain, and thick snow can partially block the views though.

Since seat reservations are not obligatory for most GoldenPass trains, you can check weather forecasts shortly in advance. Then decide whether or not to make the journey.

Weather forecasts for Interlaken, halfway on the route

Other websites of interest

• www.zentralbahn.ch: Luzern-Interlaken Express seat reservations
• www.zentralbahn.ch: Luzern-Interlaken Express catering
• www.mob.ch: GoldenPass Panoramic/Belle Époque seat reservations Zweisimmen-Montreux
• www.mob.ch: GoldenPass Panoramic VIP seats Zweisimmen-Montreux
• www.gpx.ch: GoldenPass Express seat reservations Interlaken-Montreux
• www.gpx.ch: GoldenPass Express culinary packages

Schedules

• www.mob.ch: GoldenPass Panoramic/Belle Époque timetables
• www.gpx.ch: GoldenPass Express timetables

Prices

• www.mob.ch: GoldenPass Panoramic/Belle Époque ticket prices
• www.gpx.ch: GoldenPass Express ticket and reservation prices

Itineraries including the GoldenPass 

Our info about connecting panoramic trains 

About the regions and towns on the GoldenPass line